Mount Keith - Australia
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0.25% NPI 100,100 t (Ni) OC²: 164 Mt @ 0.57%; SP³: 30 Mt @ 0.51% (Ni) M: OC-246 Mt @ 0.54%; SP-30 Mt @ 0.51% / I: OC-117 Mt @ 0.47% / OC-30 Mt @ 0.48%; SP Oxidised-23 Mt @ 0.62% Inf. (Ni) BHP Billiton Limited |
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The Mt. Keith nickel operation located 450 miles northeast of Perth in Western Australia represents the world's largest open pit nickel mine. It is a large, low-grade disseminated sulphide ore body that is mined by open-cut. Mt. Keith has a mining rate of approximately 40 Mbcm/annum and a mine life of over 20 years (including stockpiles). Concentrator ore throughput is approximately 11.5 Mt/annum with 60-70% recoveries. Nickel in concentrate production is 35-40 Kt/annum at approximately 20% Ni grade. Mining commenced in 1993 with first nickel concentrate produced in 1994.
¹ Production for the 12 months to June 20, 2007
² OC = Open Cut
³ SP = Stock-pile